Lesson 7
Geography and the Early Settlement of Egypt
Setting the Stage: Ancient Egypt and the Middle East
Can you use one word to describe the geographic setting of an entire region? If that region
is North Africa and the Middle East, you can. That one word would be desert. Locate both
the northern part of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula on the map on the opposite page.
Then look at the smaller vegetation map below on this page. The vegetation for most of the
region is desert or desert scrub. Few plants grow in the desert. Small trees, bushes, and
other plants that have adapted to a dry climate make up desert scrub.
Look again at the vegetation map. Notice the narrow band of broadleaf evergreen forest
that extends through Egypt. How can trees that remain green all year grow in such a dry
area? The answer is the Nile River. This vegetation zone follows the path of the Nile River
in Egypt.
The Nile River has long been an essential source of life-giving water in a dry land. For
thousands of years, the Nile flooded the land along its banks, leaving deposits of rich soil in
the Nile River valley. The ancient Egyptians grew plentiful harvests of wheat and barley
there. These harvests made it possible for the Egyptians to develop one of the world’s
greatest ancient civilizations.
Two other ancient civilizations developed in this region. Located south of Egypt was the
ancient civilization of Kush. Kush developed close ties with Egypt. Northeast of Egypt is an
area that borders the Mediterranean Sea. This is the land of ancient Canaan, where the
Israelites settled. These people, sometimes called Hebrews, were the ancestors of the
Jews. They gave the world one of its major religions–Judaism, and founded the Kingdom of
Israel in Canaan.
The mostly dry and hot geographic setting of North Africa and the Middle East was home to
three civilizations you will learn about in this unit. First, you will learn more about geography
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and its effect on where and how these civilizations grew. Then, you will explore each
civilization, beginning with the ancient Egyptians.
Interactive Notebook
1. Analyze the maps in “Setting the Stage,” then fill out the map as directed.
a. Locate the Arabian Peninsula on the outline map. Label it.
b. Locate ancient Egypt on the map in “Setting the Stage.” Shade it on the outline map and
key.
c. Locate the Nile River and the Nile River delta on your map. Label them.
d. Four large bodies of water touch the shores of the Arabian Peninsula. Locate these bodies
of water and label them on your map.
e. Locate the kingdom of Israel. Label it on your map.
f. Locate the kingdom of Kush. Label it on your map.
g. Locate the two deserts that surrounded much of ancient Egypt. Label them on your map.
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2. The Arabian Peninsula is part of which continent? Egypt is part of which continent?
3. What are the two major vegetation zones in both ancient Egypt and the Middle East?
4. What do the boundaries of ancient Israel tell about its size compared with that of ancient
Egypt? Compared with that of ancient Kush?
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5. Considering the environmental factor of vegetation, why do you think civilization on the
African continent began in Egypt, rather than farther west, in central North Africa?
6. What do the locations of deserts, rivers, and seas on this map tell us about where early
people were likely to settle?
7. The kingdom of Kush was an important trading center in Africa. Why might its location
explain this fact?
8. Ancient Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula have very few mountains. Most of the land is flat,
with some low hills in places. How might the geography have influenced what ancient people
did to make their living?
9. While most people who lived in ancient Egypt and the Middle East avoided settling in nearby
deserts, those regions protected them from their enemies. Why do you think this was true?
10. Ancient Egyptians worshiped the Nile River as a god. Why do you think they did so?
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Section 1: Introduction
In this chapter, you will explore how geography affected three civilizations that arose in
northern Africa and southwestern Asia. These were the civilizations of the ancient Egyptian,
Kushite (KUH-shite), and Israelite peoples.
The Egyptians settled along the Nile River, in the northeast corner of Africa. Their
civilization lasted from around 3100 B.C.E. to 350 C.E. The Kushites settled to the south of
Egypt, along the southern part of the Nile River. Their civilization began around 2000 B.C.E.
and lasted until 350 C.E. The Israelites, later called Jews, settled northeast of Egypt, along
the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in about 1800 B.C.E. Although the Jews were forced
from their homeland in 70 C.E., their civilization continues to flourish today.
Environmental factors greatly affected where people settled. Three important factors were
water, topography (the shape and elevation of the surface features of the land), and
vegetation (plant life). These three factors were determined by each area’s physical
geography. Physical geography includes mountains, rivers, valleys, deserts, climate, and
the fertility of the soil.
In this chapter, you will learn why water, topography, and vegetation were important to early
human settlement. You will explore the physical geography of the lands of the ancient
Egyptians, Kushites, and Israelites. You’ll find out how environmental factors in these
places affected people’s choices of where to live.
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Interactive Notebook
1. The environmental factors of an area affect people’s choices about where to
settle. These factors might include bodies of water, landforms, plant life, and
weather. Examine the landscape drawing that your teacher is displaying. Identify
at least three environmental factors that might affect your choice of where to
settle. For each factor, explain why it is important. For example, you might
write, The river would provide food and fresh water for my settlement.
Section 2: Environmental Factors and Early Human Settlement
In ancient times, environmental factors influenced people’s choices of where to settle. Three
important environmental factors were water, topography, and vegetation.
Water The most important environmental factor in early human settlement was water.
Physical features like rivers, lakes, and inland seas were good sources of fresh water.
Water was important for many reasons. People needed fresh drinking water to live. They
also bathed and washed things in fresh water. Bathing and washing helped prevent
disease.
Water was a source of food. People caught fish from rivers, lakes, and seas. They hunted
water birds and other animals that gathered near water.
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In addition, farmers needed water to grow their crops. For this reason, farmers often settled
near rivers. A river’s natural flooding could help irrigate their farms. Farmers could also dig
canals or trenches to direct river water to their crops. For example, farmers in Mesopotamia
dug canals for this purpose.
Water was also used for transportation. Cities and towns often used rivers as “highways.”
People traveled in boats to visit relatives and trade goods. Towns near the sea could trade
goods with countries far away.
Topography A second environmental factor was topography. Topography refers to the
shape and elevation of the land. It includes features like mountains, hills, plains, valleys,
and deserts.
The topography of an area was important for early human settlement. Farmers preferred to
settle in flat, open areas such as plains and valleys. Large, flat spaces gave farmers room
to plant crops. Also, the rich soil in coastal plains and river valleys was excellent for growing
these crops.
Mountains were less friendly to human settlement. Steep mountains were hard to
cross. Their jagged peaks, cold temperatures, and rocky land made farming difficult.
Deserts also discouraged settlement. They were hot and dry. They contained very little
water for farming. Sandstorms occurred when strong winds carried dense clouds of sand
that could block out the sun. The intense heat, lack of water, and sandstorms made travel
and living in the desert difficult.
Vegetation A third environmental factor was vegetation, or plant life. There are many kinds
of vegetation, such as trees, bushes, flowers, grass, and reeds. The crops people grow are
also a type of vegetation.
Many aspects of physical geography affect vegetation. A climate with mild weather and
regular rain is good for plant life. Fresh water supports the growth of vegetation. The areas
around rivers and lakes are usually green and lush. Mountains are often covered with thick
groves of trees. Dry and hot deserts have very little vegetation.
The vegetation in an area influenced early human settlement in several ways. Most
important, plants were a source of food. People could eat the wild plants available and also
the crops they planted. Vegetation had other uses as well. People learned to make many
useful products out of plants, including baskets, tools, medicine, rope, and even
paper. Trees provided shade from the hot sun. And plants and flowers added natural beauty
to a place.
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Wherever people settled in the ancient world, water, topography, and vegetation were
important factors. Let’s look at how these environmental factors influenced the early
settlements of the Egyptians, Kushites, and Israelites.
Interactive Notebook
1. How did water affect people’s choices of where to settle? Write three statements that answer
this question.
2. How did topography affect people’s choices of where to settle? Write three statements that
answer this question.
3. How did vegetation affect people’s choices of where to settle? Write three statements that
answer this question.
The Egyptians and Kushites both settled near the Nile River. The Egyptians lived along the
northern part of the river. The Kushites lived to the south.
Why did settlements in these areas cluster around the Nile River? Let’s look at the physical
features of Egypt and Kush to see how environmental factors favored settlement near the
Nile.
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Physical Features of Egypt and Kush The most important physical feature in ancient
Egypt and Kush was the Nile River. Flowing north from east Africa, the Nile created a long,
fertile valley that ended in a marshy delta where the river emptied into the Mediterranean
Sea.
Click to read caption
The Nile River valley was bordered by the Libyan Desert to the west and the Nubian Desert
to the east. These sandy deserts were extremely hot and dry. Most people avoided these
areas, although the deserts did play one important role in the settlement of Egypt and
Kush. They formed a natural barrier that helped protect people living in the Nile River
valley. The deserts did not support large settlements, and few invaders wanted to risk
crossing these harsh places.
On the north, Egypt was bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. Settlers could not drink its
sparkling salt water, but the sea was rich in fish and other kinds of seafood. It was also a
waterway that linked ancient Egypt to other civilizations.
To the east of Egypt and Kush was a long channel of very salty water called the Red Sea.
The climate in this area was hot and dry. Much of the land near the Red Sea was desert.
Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Egypt and Kush Environmental
factors in ancient Egypt and Kush greatly favored settlement near the Nile River. Most
important, the Nile was a source of fresh water in an area that was mostly desert.
The lack of water in the deserts made them unfit for farming. But in the Nile River valley, the
river provided natural irrigation and fertilization. Every summer, the river overflowed its
banks. The floodwaters soaked the dry ground for several weeks. As the water level
decreased, a thin layer of silt (very fine particles of rock) was left behind. This soil was
perfect for farming.
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Also, where there was fresh water, people were more likely to find fish to catch and animals
to hunt. The abundant wildlife in the Nile region included fish, ducks, geese, hippos,
crocodiles, giraffes, and ostriches.
Click to read caption
The topography of the river valley also encouraged human settlement. In the south, parts of
the Nile ran through narrow valleys between steep hills. But there were also wide, flat areas
of land around deep bends in the river. These flat areas were good for farming. In the north,
wide plains were watered by the Nile’s annual flooding.
Vegetation was rare in the dry deserts, but it was plentiful in the Nile River valley. Useful
plants included reeds and a tough water plant called papyrus. People wove reeds into
baskets, and roofs for their huts. Papyrus was used to make rope and paper. And the rich
farmland was good for growing crops like wheat and barley.
Interactive Notebook
1. Label these physical features on the map:
• Mediterranean Sea
• Red Sea
• Nile River
• Arabian Desert
• Libyan Desert
• Nubian Desert
Write the letter H in all the places on the map where human settlements were located in
this region.
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2. Write a paragraph that answers this question: How did geography affect people’s
choices of where to settle in ancient Egypt and Kush?
Use at least five words or phrases from this list: water, topography, vegetation,
Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Nile River, Arabian Desert, Libyan Desert, Nubian
Desert
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Section 4: Environmental Factors and Early Settlement of Canaan
The ancient Israelites settled in Canaan (KAY-nen), a diverse land along the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea. Canaan’s physical features and environmental factors made settlement
easier in some parts of the region than in others.
Physical Features of Canaan Canaan’s physical features included plains and valleys, hills
and mountains, deserts, and bodies of water.
In the west, coastal plains bordered the Mediterranean Sea. To the north, the Lebanon
Mountains rose steeply from the coast. The southern part of this range gave way to the
lower hills of Galilee.
The Jordan River flowed down from a mountain range through the middle of Canaan,
heading south through the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. The land around the narrow
river valley included hills, grassy slopes, and mountains. To the east lay the hot, dry Syrian
Desert. In southwestern Canaan was the Negev (NEHgehv) Desert. Rain soaked this area
during the winter months, supplying the Negev with more water than most deserts receive.
Environmental Factors and Human Settlement in Canaan In Canaan, as in Egypt and
Kush, water was a key environmental factor. In very ancient times, the wet, fertile plains
near the Mediterranean Sea were farmed. The Mediterranean also enabled traders from
many lands to visit Canaan.
Other bodies of water also played a role in the settlement of Canaan. The Sea of Galilee
was actually a freshwater lake. It had plentiful fish, and fertile land was nearby. Another
large lake, the Dead Sea, was so salty that nothing grew in it, not even plants. The area
near the Dead Sea was hot and dry, making it unsuitable for farming.
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Click to read caption
The main source of fresh water was the Jordan River. People living near the river hunted,
fished, and farmed along its banks.
But unlike the Nile River, the Jordan River did not flood regularly, so its valley was not as
fertile as the Nile’s.
Canaan’s varied topography greatly influenced patterns of settlement. Farmers found it
easiest to live on the Mediterranean’s coastal plains and near the Jordan River. In other
areas, the hilly land and dry soil made growing crops difficult. As a result, many people,
including the ancient Israelites, became herders rather than farmers. Herders tended flocks
of sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, and camels. Unlike farmers, herders were nomads,
wandering from place to place in search of good land for their animals to graze.
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People found it hardest to settle in the mountains and deserts. Mountainous land and dry
desert land were both difficult to farm. Still, some people did live in these areas. Nomads
sometimes herded cattle and camels in the Negev and Syrian deserts.
In general, Canaan’s hot, dry climate discouraged abundant plant life. Vegetation was most
plentiful near the Jordan River. Some areas had small forests. Others had only short,
scrubby plants. Grasslands were common, though, and herders made good use of them to
feed their animals.
Interactive Notebook
1. Label these physical features on the map below:
• Mediterranean Sea
• Sea of Galilee
• Dead Sea
• Jordan River
• Lebanon Mountains
• Negev Desert
• Syrian Desert
Write the letter H in all the places on the map where human settlements were located in this
region.
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2. Write a paragraph that answers this question: How did geography affect people’s
choices of where to settle in ancient Canaan?
Use at least five words or phrases from this list: water, topography, vegetation,
Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, Jordan River, Lebanon
Mountains, Negev Desert, Syrian Desert, nomad
Wrap It Up
In this chapter, you learned how three environmental factors influenced the early
settlement of ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan.
Environmental Factors Three important environmental factors are water, topography, and
vegetation. These factors greatly affected where ancient people settled.
Early Settlement of Egypt and Kush In Egypt and Kush, most people farmed in the fertile
Nile River valley. The Nile River provided fresh water in an area that was mostly desert. The
topography of the Nile River valley made the land good for farming. The valley also
supported useful vegetation like reeds and papyrus.
Early Settlement of Canaan In Canaan, the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee were
important sources of fresh water. Much of the land, however, was too hot, dry, or hilly for
farming. As a result, many people, including the ancient Israelites, were herders rather than
farmers. Herders were nomads who moved from place to place to find grasslands where
their animals could graze.
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